How to Find Chicago Death Certificates Before 1871
Chicago death certificates are not available before late 1871 because the "Chicago Fire of October 8, 1871 destroyed all county vital records prior to that date." (See "Genealogy Records" at the Cook County Clerk's Office website)Try checking alternate sources of information such as those listed below.
- Obituaries and Death Notices
Historical Newspapers, Birth, Marriage, & Death Announcements, 1851-2003
Subscription database available at Ancestry.com
Includes the Chicago Tribune, 1850-1985
Sam Fink's Index to Deaths Mentioned in Chicago Newspapers, 1856-1889
- Church burial records
Catholic
Holy Family 1863-1899
Notre Dame 1865-1883
St Francis of Assisium's Church 1853-1877
St Joseph's Church 1856-1915
St Michael's Church 1866-1915
St Peter's Church 1860-1900
- For burial records from other denominations, check the Church and Synagogue
Records listed on the Newberry Library website.
- Cemetery records
See also: http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/223.html The cemeteries below (shown with their 1871 locations) were listed in the 1871 Chicago city directory.
Anshe Mayrev
One mile north of city limits on Green a road
Cemetery of the Congregation of the Sons of Peace
One and a half miles north of city cemtery, near the lake [Polish]
Cemetery of the Hebrew Benevolent Society
Adjoining the Cemetery of the Congregation of the Sons of Peace
Chebra Kadisha Ubikarcholm
Two miles north of city limits, on Green Bay road These four cemeteries are now known as "Jewish Graceland." Records may be available from 1855 forward. (See Development, Decline and Renewal of Old Jewish Cemetery)
Calvary
Ten miles north of the city on the Chicago and Milwaukee R.R.- Calvary Interment records, 1900-1987 FHL Microfilm 32
reels
(Contact the cemetery for earlier records)
Catholic
On North Side, between Schiller street and North avenue (probably associated with City Cemetery)
German Catholic Cemetery
Three miles from the city limits, on Green Bay road- St Boniface Interment records, 1864-1987 , FHL Microfilm
15
reels
- St Henry Interment records, 1864-1987 , FHL Microfilm 2 reels
City Cemetery (also known as "Milliman Tract")
North avenue to Lincoln park, between North Clark and the lake.
The city ordered this cemetery vacated in 1865 and the lot owners who could be contacted were allowed to choose new lots in Rosehill, Oak Woods, Calvary, and Graceland.
Graceland
Two miles north of city, on Green Bay road Cemetery records from first record book of Graceland Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois, 1860-1866 , FHL Microfilm #0848587 Item 5
German Lutheran Cemetery (of the St Paul's and St Emanuel's churches)
South of Graceland Wunder's Cemetery records, ca. 1867-1930, FHL Microfilm 2 reels (No circulation to Family History Center) Records also available at the Newberry Library
Oak Woods
Rosehill
Four miles north of the city, on the Chicago and Milwaukee R.R. - Calvary Interment records, 1900-1987 FHL Microfilm 32
reels